Just nine years after it began, SpaceX invited the media in October 2011 to tour the new Spaceport America hangar in Upham, N.M. In May 2013, the company signed a three-year lease to test its Grasshopper reusable rocket there. (Matt York / Associated Press) less

Just nine years after it began, SpaceX invited the media in October 2011 to tour the new Spaceport America hangar in Upham, N.M. In May 2013, the company signed a three-year lease to test its Grasshopper ... more

The Dragon capsule backs away from the International Space Station and gets repositioned for release later May 31, 2012. (NASA / Associated Press)

The Dragon capsule backs away from the International Space Station and gets repositioned for release later May 31, 2012. (NASA / Associated Press)

Photo: Associated Press

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The Dragon is released from the robotic arm at 6:49 a.m. Houston time on May 31, 2012. (NASA / Associated Press)

The Dragon is released from the robotic arm at 6:49 a.m. Houston time on May 31, 2012. (NASA / Associated Press)

Photo: Associated Press

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Dragon is recovered after splashdown May 31, 2012, in the Pacific Ocean. The capsule then was taken by barge to the Port of Los Angeles, arriving on June 5. (SpaceX / Associated Press)

Dragon is recovered after splashdown May 31, 2012, in the Pacific Ocean. The capsule then was taken by barge to the Port of Los Angeles, arriving on June 5. (SpaceX / Associated Press)

Photo: Associated Press

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Media from around the world cover the launch SpaceX Falcon 9 from atop of the VAB as it lights up the sky during its liftoff from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. A commercial cargo ship rocketed into orbit in pursuit of the International Space Station, the first of a dozen supply runs under a mega-contract with NASA. (AP Photo/Florida Today, Craig Rubadoux) less

Media from around the world cover the launch SpaceX Falcon 9 from atop of the VAB as it lights up the sky during its liftoff from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. A commercial cargo ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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This photo provided by SpaceX shows an unmanned Dragon freighter that left the International Space Station with a stash of precious medical samples and aimed for a Pacific splashdown to end the first official shipment under a billion-dollar contract with NASA, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station used a giant robot arm to release the commercial cargo ship 255 miles up. The California-based SpaceX company steered its capsule back to Earth via parachutes on Sunday afternoon, a couple hundred miles off the Baja California coast. (AP Photo/SpaceX) less

This photo provided by SpaceX shows an unmanned Dragon freighter that left the International Space Station with a stash of precious medical samples and aimed for a Pacific splashdown to end the first official ... more

Photo: Associated Press

Image 22 of 40

This photo provided by SpaceX shows an unmanned Dragon freighter during its splashdown, after leaving the International Space Station with a stash of precious medical samples and aimed for a Pacific to end the first official shipment under a billion-dollar contract with NASA, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station used a giant robot arm to release the commercial cargo ship 255 miles up. The California-based SpaceX companysteered its capsule back to Earth via parachutes on Sunday afternoon, a couple hundred miles off the Baja California coast. (AP Photo/SpaceX) less

This photo provided by SpaceX shows an unmanned Dragon freighter during its splashdown, after leaving the International Space Station with a stash of precious medical samples and aimed for a Pacific to end the ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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In this Dec. 6, 2012 photo, undeveloped land near where State Highway 4 ends at the Gulf of Mexico that is under consideration as a possible commercial spaceport for California-based SpaceX, is seen, in Texas. Local lawmakers hope to find money in a tight state budget to entice the company. (AP Photo/Christopher Sherman) less

In this Dec. 6, 2012 photo, undeveloped land near where State Highway 4 ends at the Gulf of Mexico that is under consideration as a possible commercial spaceport for California-based SpaceX, is seen, in Texas. ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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In this Dec. 6, 2012 photo, high-rises of South Padre Island, Texas, are visible in the distance, north of a site being considered as a commercial spaceport for California-based SpaceX. The private land is surrounded by property managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Local lawmakers hope to find money in the state budget to entice the company. (AP Photo/Christopher Sherman) less

In this Dec. 6, 2012 photo, high-rises of South Padre Island, Texas, are visible in the distance, north of a site being considered as a commercial spaceport for California-based SpaceX. The private land is ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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An improvised sign marks the entrance to Boca Chica Village, May 2, 2013, with homes occupied primarily by winter Texans. The neighborhood is approximately 1.5 miles from the proposed launch site near Brownsville. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News) less

An improvised sign marks the entrance to Boca Chica Village, May 2, 2013, with homes occupied primarily by winter Texans. The neighborhood is approximately 1.5 miles from the proposed launch site near ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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SpaceX has proposed a commercial spaceport on land near Boca Chica Beach in the Rio Grande Valley near Brownsville. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

SpaceX has proposed a commercial spaceport on land near Boca Chica Beach in the Rio Grande Valley near Brownsville. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 27 of 40

In a photo provided by NASA, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with it's Dragon spacecraft onboard, is seen shortly after it was erected at Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday, March 1, 2013. Launch of the second SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services mission is scheduled for later Friday morning. (AP Photo/Nasa, Bill Ingalls) less

In a photo provided by NASA, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with it's Dragon spacecraft onboard, is seen shortly after it was erected at Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on ... more

Photo: Associated Press

Image 28 of 40

The Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, March 1, 2013. The rocket is transporting the Dragon capsule to the International Space Station containing more than a ton of food, tools, computer hardware and science experiments. (AP Photo/John Raoux) less

The Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, March 1, 2013. The rocket is transporting the Dragon capsule to the ... more

Photo: Associated Press

Image 29 of 40

This NASA image on Twitter by ISS Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield, the SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle soars over sub-Saharan Africa during the approach to the International Space Station on March 1, 2013. The privately-owned unmanned US space capsule owned by SpaceX arrived at the International Space Station on March 3, bringing to the space outpost food, scientific materials and other crucial equipment. The capsule named Dragon was captured -- with the help of a robotic arm - by NASA Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford and Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn, 5:31 am EST (1031 GMT), when the ISS was over northern Ukraine, US space officials said. (NASA / Chris Hadfield) less

This NASA image on Twitter by ISS Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield, the SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle soars over sub-Saharan Africa during the approach to the International Space Station on March 1, 2013. The ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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This NASA image form video shows the SpaceX capsule Dragon being captured by the Canada Arm on board the International Space Staion(ISS) on March 3, 2013. The privately-owned unmanned US space capsule owned by SpaceX arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, bringing to the space outpost food, scientific materials and other crucial equipment. The capsule named Dragon was captured -- with the help of a robotic arm - by NASA Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford and Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn, 5:31 am EST (1031 GMT), when the ISS was over northern Ukraine, US space officials said. (NASA HO/AFP/Getty Images) less

This NASA image form video shows the SpaceX capsule Dragon being captured by the Canada Arm on board the International Space Staion(ISS) on March 3, 2013. The privately-owned unmanned US space capsule owned ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Image 31 of 40

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer, CEO and Product Architect of Tesla Motors, co-founder of PayPal, and non-executive chairman and principal shareholder of SolarCity, speaks at the Austin Convention Center during South by Southwest Saturday March 9, 2013 in Austin. less

Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer, CEO and Product Architect of Tesla Motors, co-founder of PayPal, and non-executive chairman and principal shareholder of SolarCity, speaks at the Austin Convention ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Dragon is backed away from the International Space Station early on March 26, 2013, for splashdown later that day in the Pacific off Baja California. (NASA / Associated Press)

Dragon is backed away from the International Space Station early on March 26, 2013, for splashdown later that day in the Pacific off Baja California. (NASA / Associated Press)

In today’s paper I have a story about how Houston needs to reinvent itself to thrive as the era of commercial space dawns.

As part of the article I had an extended interview with Michael Lopez-Alegria, a four-time astronaut who now leads the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, an industry group.

Lopez-Alegria. (CSF)

I asked Lopez-Alegria whether he believed SpaceX founder Elon Musk would choose a site near Brownsville to build a commercial spaceport. His response:

I think all indications are that he will. They obviously have a pretty big footprint in MacGregor, so there’s some logistic logic there. I think they really are looking for a place where they can be independent of a government range, so they don’t have to worry about scheduling concerns. If they own the thing then they can launch pretty much whenever they want, which is a big issue for them. As I understand it there is interest in the state and local community down there. I know that there’s still some talk about Florida, and Space Florida is a member of CSF so I wish them well as well, but it will be interesting to see.

At one time SpaceX had hoped to make a decision on where to locate a commercial spaceport, from where it will launch satellites and other payloads aboard its Falcon line of rockets, by the end of 2013. But by the end of the year the FAA hadn’t issued a ruling on the company’s Environmental Impact Statement.